This year's winners are no strangers to the top of the list, dominating in seven general categories: research, infrastructure, institutions, market and business sophistication, and a commitment to knowledge and creativity.

The most innovative countries teach creatively, enforce progressive laws, do business intelligently, and live on the cutting edge.

Keep scrolling to find out which countries will lead us into the future.

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15. Canada — Over the last several years, Canada has become a well-respected country in tech, especially in cities like Montreal and Vancouver.

14. Hong Kong — Though it has dipped four spots since 2014, Hong Kong is playing an ever-expanding role in the world's economy.

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13. Iceland — A country that's bouncing back from financial woes is making storage of the world's internet data its primary goal, coming in 13th for the second straight year.

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12. Luxembourg — The tiny country's ranking comes from high scores in the trade, investment, and education categories.

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12. Republic of Korea — The Global Innovation Index says South Korea's greatest growth is in its booming research and development sector.

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10. Germany — The country ranks at the top of the list's measurement of patent creation, and also has strong technology output, especially in automobile tech.

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9. Netherlands — With its strong online culture, the Netherlands ranks at the top of the survey's "e-participation" rankings (for interacting with the government online), and near the top in research and technology outputs.

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8. Denmark — Denmark leads for its efficient system of government, large number of researchers in the country, and quality of education.

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7. Ireland — Up three places in the ranking since 2014, Ireland is recognized for its infrastructure and creative outputs, like its thriving design culture.

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6. Singapore — One of the most consistently highly ranked countries, Singapore stands out for its political environment and ecological sustainability.

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5. Finland — Hovering around the top five for the last several years, Finland is recognized for its successful work in technology, research, and higher education.

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4. United States — The US jumped six spots since 2012, most notably due to the strength of its global-facing markets, value of stock trades, and widespread implementation of internet technology.

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3. United Kingdom — Education and productivity hold the UK back, the Index says, while its well-roundedness in all other aspects keeps it ranked high overall.

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2. Sweden — Well-designed universities and high-achieving graduates have kept Sweden in the top 3 for the last five years.

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1. Switzerland — The country has been number one since 2011 because of its knowledge-based economy and ability to turn innovative thinking into lucrative projects. For example, local bank UBS is now using virtual reality to project investment portfolios to clients.